War funding bill being negotiated -Senate leaders seek to avoid second showdown with Bush.

May 18, 2007

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Senate leaders met with President Bush's chief of staff in the Capitol on Thursday in search of a compromise bill to fund the Iraq war, eager to avoid a second veto showdown. "We'll work through something we can all live with," the president told reporters at the White House. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said that was his goal, adding that Democrats would not give the White House "a blank check." Bush "has to deal with us," he said. Bush vetoed an earlier measure, objecting to a proposed timetable for a troop withdrawal as well as several billion dollars Democrats inserted for their favored domestic programs. House Democrats failed to override his veto, then countered with a replacement bill to finance the war in two 60-day installments. Bush vowed to veto that bill, as well. The Senate sidetracked the House's confrontational approach, passing legislation that merely pledges to provide the troops the resources they need. The vote was 94-1. A day earlier, Reid staged a series of test votes on the war that revealed an overwhelming majority of Republicans were willing to restrict foreign aid if Baghdad failed to meet certain benchmarks. Another vote showed a slim majority of Democrats -- 28 out of 47 voting Wednesday -- support cutting off money for combat in 2008. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell said between Republicans and Democrats there is "general agreement that we must hold the Iraqi government accountable to a political process that allows for reconciliation."